Hopefuls showing strengths

State education superintendent race close as Tenenbaum takes slight edge over Eckstrom in poll

Web posted October 18, 1998

By Chasiti Kirkland
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- In an election year free of economic crisis and tax revolts, education is once again the good old boy of politics.

But when you get right down to it, political analysts say, there just aren't any issues to speak of -- excluding the lottery, and education is the squeaky wheel in that debate, too. Which brings us to the election of South Carolina's next education superintendent, a toss-up with less than 16 days until Election Day.

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If you're not a career educator or news junkie, political scientists predict, you won't know much about the issues, which means both candidates, Democrat Inez Tenenbaum and Republican challenger David Eckstrom are having to do a lot of educating.

If that were a deciding factor, Robert Botsch, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina-Aiken says, Mrs. Tenenbaum has the edge. She pounds the pavement more, speaking at civic clubs, rallies and everywhere else she's invited.

In the latest Mason-Dixon poll, Mrs. Tenenbaum remains the front-runner in the race, leading her opponent 37 percent to 34 percent. The remaining 29 percent of the voting population are undecided.

``She has an incredible amount of energy and she's a dynamic lady,'' Dr. Botsch said. ``That's what it takes.''

While neither candidate for state superintendent of education is a career educator, both have demonstrated commitment to children and education. Attorney Mr. Ekstrom has served on the board of Lexington District 5 for eight years. Attorney Mrs. Tenenbaum has worked with juvenile justice and has directed Success by 6, a United Way program aimed at preparing children for school.

Both cite the same concerns by voters: a desire to improve the quality of education and desire to deal with discipline issues, particularly classroom management. But they deviate on their recipes for reform.

Mr. Eckstrom is exploring the use of vouchers.

``I support giving parents the power to choose among public schools, but my platform does not include a private voucher proposal,'' he said. ``This is not to say that pilot projects in other parts of the country aren't worth examining. Maybe private schools won't want to participate. If people won't participate, let's not have vouchers.''

In recent weeks he has softened his stance on vouchers -- cash stipends that can be used to help pay private school tuition. First he flatly supported them but now has back-peddled a bit by saying the public should choose.

Mrs. Tenenbaum has used that to her advantage by denouncing her opponent's idea and claiming that vouchers will drain badly needed resources from public schools.

Her stance has won her the endorsement of the South Carolina Education Association. Jackie Hicks, chairwoman of the group's Political Action Committee said of Mrs. Tenenbaum, ``She has been a classroom teacher and understands the needs of our schoolchildren.''

The fact that she's had experience dealing with the Legislature and governor over many years and across party lines, as she did leading the Republican's governor's task force on juvenile justice, may also play in her favor, political scientists say. She also served as the Director of Research for the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee of the state House of Representatives from 1977-83.

The committee was responsible for legislation and public policy relating to aging, health, environment, children, family services and local government.

Experts also say the endorsements of the Education Association could be important this year, especially in a close race.

``Teachers can be a major influence and can easily spread the word,'' Dr. Botsch said.

Clemson political scientist Charles Dunn called the endorsement a two-edged sword, saying voters may look to the SCEA for advice on whose name to choose come crunch time. But voters may also blame teachers for South Carolina's education system and vote the opposite way, Dr. Dunn said.

Not likely, says Dr. Botsch. ``From all the surveys our department has conducted, the public sympathizes with public school teachers. It's a difficult job and if you can do it and survive, you're somewhat of a miracle worker.''

But the things that play significantly to Mr. Eckstrom's favor are that South Carolina is a Republican Party state and only 33 percent of potential eligible voters are expected to go to the polls. Translation: voter turnout is everything, and Republicans vote more often than not. Name recognition may also help lift Mr. Ekstrom to victory. His brother, Richard, is state treasurer and also appears on the ballot as a Republican incumbent.

If turnout is above 33 percent, Dr. Botsch predicts Mrs. Tenenbaum will be victorious. Anything less, Mr. Eckstrom will win, he said.

In Mrs. Tenenbaum's favor are the split-ticket voters. A larger number of Republicans may vote for her, defecting from their traditional party lines.

One of those voters is Brent Rankin, an Aiken County Board of Education member.

``She is against vouchers and for public education,'' Mr. Rankin said. ``And I am concerned with who's going to support public education.''

Outgoing Education Superintendent Barbara Nielsen isn't pleased with her prospective successors. She had endorsed Democrat Fred Sheheen in the June primary, but he lost.

``This is not a political job,'' Dr. Nielsen said. ``You've got to keep focused on children, how they learn and what's best for them. If this is a political position and you want to be somewhere else, you're going to measure your decisions on `What do the polls say?'''

In 1994, Mr. Eckstrom ran unsuccessfully for attorney general and Mrs. Tenenbaum lost the primary for lieutenant governor.

Chasiti Kirkland covers education for The Augusta Chronicle. She can be reached at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.